NCAA Division III independent schools explained

NCAA Division III independent schools are four-year institutions that compete in college athletics at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division III level, but do not belong to an established intercollegiate athletic conference for a particular sport. These schools may however still compete as members of an athletic conference in other sports. A school may also be fully independent, and not belong to any athletic conference for any sport at all. The reason for independent status varies among institutions, but it is frequently because the school's primary athletic conference does not sponsor a particular sport.

Full independents

Departing members are highlighted in pink.

Current members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Football?	Future primary conference
Maranatha Baptist University	Watertown, Wisconsin	1968	Baptist	1,169	Sabercats	2013	No	None
Trinity Washington University	Washington, D.C.	1897	Catholic	2,100	Tigers	2007; 2015	No	None

Notes:

Former members

Institution	Location	Founded	Affiliation	Enrollment	Nickname	Joined	Left	Football?	Current primary conference
Alfred State College	Alfred, New York	1908	Public	3,500	Pioneers	2013	2017	Yes	Allegheny Mountain (AMCC)
Alverno College	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1887	Catholic	1,664	Inferno	2000	2004	No
Asbury University	Wilmore, Kentucky	1890	Christian	1,054	Eagles	2021	2024	No	C.C. of the South (CCS)
Bard College	Annandale-on-Hudson, New York	1860	Episcopal	1,958	Raptors	1990	2004	No	Liberty (LL)
Berea College	Berea, Kentucky	1855	Christian	1,613	Mountaineers	2014	2017	No	Heartland (HCAC)
Binghamton University	Vestal, New York	1844	Public	17,768	Bearcats	1997	1998	No	America East (AEC)
Bluffton University	Bluffton, Ohio	1899	Mennonite	1,094	Beavers	1996	1998	Yes	Heartland (HCAC)
Bob Jones University	Greenville, South Carolina	1927	Nondenominational	2,916	Bruins	2020	2023	No	NCCAA
Cairn University	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	1913	Nondenominational	2,200	Highlanders	2001	2004	No	United East (UEC)
Castleton University	Castleton, Vermont	1787	Public	2,399	Spartans	1973	2001	Yes	N/A
Centenary University	Hackettstown, New Jersey	1867	United Methodist	1,597	Cyclones	1997	2003	No	Atlantic East (AEC)
Chapman University	Orange, California	1861	DoC & UCC	10,001	Panthers	1994	2011	Yes	Southern California (SCIAC)
Chowan University	Murfreesboro, North Carolina	1848	Baptist	981	Hawks	2004	2007	Yes	Carolinas (CC)
Clarks Summit University	Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania	1932	Baptist	1,142	Defenders	2001	2004	No	United East (UEC)
Colorado College	Colorado Springs, Colorado	1874	Nonsectarian	2,266	Tigers	1973	2006	No	Southern Collegiate (SCAC)
	Irving, Texas	1956	Catholic	2,538	Crusaders	2001; 2010	2008; 2011	No	Southern Collegiate (SCAC)
Defiance College	Defiance, Ohio	1850	United Church of Christ	1,000	Yellow Jackets	1995	1997	Yes	Heartland (HCAC)
Farmingdale State College	East Farmingdale, New York	1912	Public	8,162	Rams	2001	2003	No	Skyline
Finlandia University	Hancock, Michigan	1896	Lutheran	507	Lions	2002	2017	No	Closed in 2023
Green Mountain College	Poultney, Vermont	1834	United Methodist	N/A	Eagles	2005	2008	No	Closed in 2019
Husson University	Bangor, Maine	1898	Nonsectarian	3,476	Eagles	2001	2003	Yes	North Atlantic (NAC)
Illinois Institute of Technology	Chicago, Illinois	1890	Nonsectarian	2,977	Scarlet Hawks	2013	2018	No	Northern Athletics (NACC)
La Sierra University	Riverside, California	1922	Seventh-day Adventist	2,199	Golden Eagles	2006	2010	No	CalPac (CPC)
Lancaster Bible College	Lancaster, Pennsylvania	1933	Nondenominational	954	Chargers	2006	2011	No	United East (UEC)
Lincoln University	Oxford, Pennsylvania	1854	Public	2,650	Lions	1973	2008	Yes	Central Intercollegiate (CIAA)
Lyon College	Batesville, Arkansas	1872	Presbyterian	700	Scots	2022	2023	Yes	St. Louis (SLIAC)
	Farmington, Maine	1863	Public	1,861	Beavers	1999	2003	No	North Atlantic (NAC)
	Presque Isle, Maine	1903	Public	1,469	Owls	2005	2017	No	North Atlantic (NAC)
Meredith College	Raleigh, North Carolina	1891	Nonsectarian	1,990	Avenging Angels	1986	2007	No	USA South (USAC)
Mills College	Oakland, California	1852	Nonsectarian	1,345	Cyclones	1994; 2016	2013; 2017	No	N/A
Milwaukee School of Engineering	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1903	Nonsectarian	2,122	Raiders	2006	2007	No	Northern Athletics (NACC)
Mississippi University for Women	Columbus, Mississippi	1884	Public	2,479	Owls	2019	2023	No	St. Louis (SLIAC)
Mitchell College	New London, Connecticut	1938	Nonsectarian	572	Mariners	2005	2008	No	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Mount Mary University	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1913	Catholic	1,209	Blue Angels	2007; 2016	2015; 2018	No	Coast to Coast (C2C)
Mount St. Joseph University	Delhi Township, Ohio	1920	Catholic	1,889	Lions	1996	1998	Yes	Heartland (HCAC)
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	United Methodist	1,600	Prairie Wolves	1982	2016	Yes	American Rivers (ARC)
New Jersey City University	Jersey City, New Jersey	1929	Public	7,300	Gothic Knights	2004	2005	No	New Jersey (NJAC)
	New Rochelle, New York	1904	Catholic	N/A	Blue Angels	1982	2019	No	N/A
New York University Tandon School of Engineering	Brooklyn, New York	1854	Nonsectarian	4,487	Fighting Blue Jays	1979	2004	No	N/A
Newbury College	Brookline, Massachusetts	1962	Nonsectarian	N/A	Nighthawks	2001	2008	No	Closed in 2019
North Central University	Minneapolis, Minnesota	1930	Assemblies of God	1,200	Rams	2006	2013	No	Upper Midwest (UMAC)
Northern Vermont University–Johnson	Johnson, Vermont	1881	Public	1,803	Badgers	1973	2001	No	N/A
Northern Vermont University–Lyndon	Lyndon, Vermont	1911	Public	1,519	Hornets	2006	2008	No	N/A
Pine Manor College	Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts	1911	Nonsectarian	419	Gators	1983; 2016	1995; 2017	No	N/A
Russell Sage College	Albany and Troy, New York	1916	Nonsectarian	2,389	Gators	1993	2007	No	Empire 8 (E8)
Rust College	Holly Springs, Mississippi	1866	United Methodist	900	Bearcats	1988	2017	No	Gulf Coast (GCAC)
Saint Elizabeth University	Morristown, New Jersey	1899	Catholic	1,200	Eagles	1988	2009	No	United East (UEC)
Saint Joseph's College of Maine	Standish, Maine	1912	Catholic	1,987	Monks	1975	2007	No	Great Northeast (GNAC)
Salem College	Winston-Salem, North Carolina	1772	Moravian	565	Spirits	2005	2009	No	USA South (USAC)
Sarah Lawrence College	Yonkers, New York	1926	Nonsectarian	1,782	Gryphons	2013	2014	No	Skyline
Savannah College of Art and Design	Savannah, Georgia	1978	Non-profit art school	11,897	Bees	1992	2003	No	The Sun (SC)
Spalding University	Louisville, Kentucky	1814	Catholic	1,692	Golden Eagles	2007	2009	No	St. Louis (SLIAC)
St. Joseph's University, New York – Brooklyn Campus	Brooklyn, New York	1916	Catholic	1,261	Bears	2007	2015	No	Skyline
Stephens College	Columbia, Missouri	1833	Nonsectarian	754	Stars	1994	2004	No	American Midwest (AMC)
Stevenson University	Stevenson, Maryland	1947	Catholic	3,621	Mustangs	1994	2004	Yes	MAC Commonwealth (MACC)
Stony Brook University	Stony Brook, New York	1957	Public	26,782	Seawolves	1994	1995	Yes	Colonial (CAA)
	Canton, New York	1906	Public	3,122	Kangaroos	2011	2017	No	North Atlantic (NAC)
	Morrisville, New York	1908	Public	2,486	Mustangs	2006	2007	Yes	North Atlantic (NAC)
Thomas College	Waterville, Maine	1894	Nonsectarian	1,949	Terriers	2001	2003	No	North Atlantic (NAC)
Thomas More University	Crestview Hills, Kentucky	1921	Catholic	1,963	Saints	1996	2005	Yes	Great Midwest (G-MAC)
University of California, Santa Cruz	Santa Cruz, California	1965	Public	19,700	Banana Slugs	1980	2019	No	Coast to Coast (C2C)
	Phoenixville, Pennsylvania	1939	Assemblies of God	742	Patriots	2013	2017	No	United East (UEC)
Warren Wilson College	Swannanoa, North Carolina	1894	Presbyterian	650	Owls	2020	2022	No	Coast to Coast (C2C)
William Peace University	Raleigh, North Carolina	1857	Presbyterian	950	Pacers	2001	2003	No	USA South (USAC)
Wilmington College	Wilmington, Ohio	1870	Quakers	990	Quakers	1996	1998	Yes	Ohio (OAC)

Notes:

Football

Departing members are highlighted in pink.

Field hockey

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Meredith College†	Avenging Angels	Raleigh, North Carolina	1891	Private	1,990	USA South
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.

Golf

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Christopher Newport University	Captains	Newport News, Virginia	1961	Public	5,186	Coast to Coast
University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire	Blugolds	Eau Claire	1916	Public	10,043	WIAC

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Christopher Newport University	Captains	Newport News, Virginia	1961	Public	5,186	Coast to Coast
Mount Mary University†	Blue Angels	Milwaukee, Wisconsin	1913	Private	1,209	Coast to Coast
	Hawks	West Hartford, Connecticut	1877	Private	6,792	Commonwealth Coast

† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.

Ice hockey

See also: NCAA Division III independent schools (ice hockey).

Women

Notes

Lacrosse

See also: NCAA independent schools (lacrosse).

Men

Rowing

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	Commonwealth Coast
Nazareth University	Golden Flyers	Pittsford, New York	1924	Private	3,140	Empire 8

Swimming & diving

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	Commonwealth Coast
Johns Hopkins University	Blue Jays	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Private	20,174	Centennial
Loras College	Duhawks	Dubuque, Iowa	1839	Private	1,550	American Rivers
Luther College	Norse	Decorah, Iowa	1861	Lutheran	2,573	American Rivers
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Prairie Wolves	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	Private	1,600	American Rivers
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, Iowa	1860	Private	1,966	American Rivers
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Gordon College	Fighting Scots	Wenham, Massachusetts	1889	Private	2,109	Commonwealth Coast
Johns Hopkins University	Blue Jays	Baltimore, Maryland	1876	Private	20,174	Centennial
Loras College	Duhawks	Dubuque, Iowa	1839	Private	1,550	American Rivers
Luther College	Norse	Decorah, Iowa	1861	Lutheran	2,573	American Rivers
Nebraska Wesleyan University	Prairie Wolves	Lincoln, Nebraska	1887	Private	1,600	American Rivers
Simpson College	Storm	Indianola, Iowa	1860	Private	1,966	American Rivers
Southern Virginia University	Knights	Buena Vista, Virginia	1867	Private	1,106	USA South

† - Women's college, therefore not competing in men's sports.

Notes

Tennis

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Cairn University	Highlanders	Langhorne, Pennsylvania	1913	Private	2,200	UEC
State University of New York at Oswego	Lakers	Oswego, New York	1861	Public	8,909	SUNYAC

Track & field (indoor)

Men

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Alfred State College	Pioneers	Alfred, New York	1908	Private	3,500	AMCC
Gwynedd Mercy University	Griffins	Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania	1948	Private	2,017	Atlantic East
Immaculata University	Mighty Macs	Immaculata, Pennsylvania	1940	Private	1,043	Atlantic East
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
McMurry University	War Hawks	Abilene, Texas	1923	Private	1,430	ASC
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Leopards	Boston, Massachusetts	1904	Private	3,728	Commonwealth Coast

Women

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Alfred State College	Pioneers	Alfred, New York	1908	Private	3,500	AMCC
Gwynedd Mercy University	Griffins	Gwynedd Valley, Pennsylvania	1948	Private	2,017	Atlantic East
Immaculata University	Mighty Macs	Immaculata, Pennsylvania	1940	Private	1,043	Atlantic East
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
McMurry University	War Hawks	Abilene, Texas	1923	Private	1,430	ASC
Wentworth Institute of Technology	Leopards	Boston, Massachusetts	1904	Private	3,728	Commonwealth Coast

Track & field (outdoor)

Men

Notes

Volleyball (indoor)

Men

Wrestling

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Keystone College	Giants	La Plume, Pennsylvania	1868	Private	1,600	CSAC
Elizabethtown College	Blue Jays	Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania	1899	Private	1,671	Landmark Conference
Elmira College	Soaring Eagle	Elmira, New York	1855	Private	819	Empire 8
Fontbonne University	Griffins	Clayton, Missouri	1841	Private	944	St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Huntingdon College	Hawks	Montgomery, Alabama	1854	Private	1,107	Collegiate Conference of the South
Marymount University	Saints	Arlington, Virginia	1950	Private	4,257	Atlantic East Conference
New Jersey City University	Gothic Knights	Jersey City, New Jersey	1927	Public	6,800	New Jersey Athletic Conference
Ohio Wesleyan University	Battling Bishops	Delaware, Ohio	1842	Private	1,600	North Coast Athletic Conference
Saint John's University (Minnesota)	Johnnies	Collegeville, Minnesota	1913	Private	3,640	Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference
Schreiner University	Mountaineers	Kerrville, Texas	1923	Private	1,308	Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference
The College of New Jersey	Lions	Ewing, New Jersey	1855	Public	7,340	New Jersey Athletic Conference
University of Scranton	Royals	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1888	Private	5,422	Landmark Conference
University of the Ozarks	Eagles	Clarksville, Arkansas	1834	Private	872	American Southwest Conference
Wabash College	Little Giants	Crawfordsville, Indiana	1832	Private	867	North Coast Athletic Conference
Westminster College	Blue Jays	Fulton, Missouri	1851	Private	609	St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

Emerging sports for women

Acrobatics & tumbling

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
East Texas Baptist University	Tigers	Marshall, Texas	1912	Private	1,714	ASC
University of Mary Hardin–Baylor	Crusaders	Belton, Texas	1845	Private	2,713	ASC

Rugby

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Colby-Sawyer College	Chargers	New London, New Hampshire	1837	Private	1,043	GNAC
Marywood University	Pacers	Scranton, Pennsylvania	1915	Private	2,470	Atlantic East
Norwich University	Cadets	Northfield, Vermont	1819	Military	2,300	GNAC
University of New England	Nor'easters	Biddeford, Maine	1831	Private	8,085	Commonwealth Coast

Triathlon

Institution	Team	Location	Founded	Type	Enrollment	Primary conference
Central College	Dutch	Pella, Iowa	1853	Private	1,575	American Rivers
Coe College	Kohawks	Cedar Rapids, Iowa	1851	Private	1,355	American Rivers
Millikin University	Big Blue	Decatur, Illinois	1901	Private	2,118	CCIW
North Central College	Cardinals	Naperville, Illinois	1861	Private	2,490	CCIW

See also

• NCAA Division I independent schools
• NCAA Division II independent schools
• NAIA independent schools